Samoa PM delivers Peter Tali Coleman Lecture on Pacific Public Policy

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Samoa Prime Minister (PM) Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, says that her government is willing to meet with the United States to identify areas of mutual interest, to move their relationship forward.

Samoa Observer reports that the PM was replying during question time, yesterday, after delivering the virtual annual Peter Tali Coleman Lecture on Pacific Public Policy at Georgetown University.

On the question of what the US can do better as a partner, the Prime Minister said, that due to geopolitical arrangements, the US had its focus elsewhere in the region.

“So we have noted that there’s a renewed interest by the US,” Fiame said.

She added, that the US has the Charge de Affairs Office in Apia, which is attached to the Wellington Embassy. She further noted that “that office has been with us for a while now.”

“Of course, the largest project the US has with us is the Peace Corps, and that has made a big contribution to education; as well as some of the other technical fields that we’ve had shortages of — so that particular program is a significant program with the US.”

The Prime Minister said, more recently, the US has teamed up with partners in the region to provide security services, especially of the country’s oceans and territorial boundaries, to address transnational crime and illegal fishing.

According to Fiame, both governments have processes which are, also, used by their development partners.

“We lay out what our priorities are and have a conversation with our partners, regarding to which sector they feel they can best contribute to.” she said.

During her lecture, Fiame said that for small island nations in regions such as the Pacific, their collective stance is important in order for them to ensure that their voice is heard on global platforms.
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Congresswoman Uifaatali Amata Radewagen, introduced Fiame to the virtual audience for the lecture set up, in memory of her father; the late Governor Uifaatali Peter Tali Coleman. Georgetown University was his alma mater.

Click here for full address:https://youtu.be/I2_y2RIhVyU